RECORD 1,420 ENTRIES ACCEPTED FOR 2013 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN

Eighty-four golfers currently fully exempt into USGA championship

By
USGAMay 2, 2013

Of the record 1,420 entrants for the 2013 U.S. Women's Open, one will be crowned champion at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. (USGA/L.C. Lambrecht)

The United States Golf Association today announced that it has accepted a record number of entries for the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, to be conducted at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. The 1,420 entries surpasses the 1,364 entries accepted in 2012 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., and marks the 10th consecutive year the number of entries for the championship has exceeded 1,000.

"We are very proud to have a record number of entries for the U.S. Women's Open for the second consecutive year," said Thomas J. O'Toole Jr., USGA vice president and chairman of the Championship Committee. "The USGA has long been dedicated to women's golf, and we wish all the entrants the very best as they attempt to join the celebrated list of Women's Open champions.”

Considered among the premier women’s golf events worldwide, the U.S. Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. It is open to professional female golfers and amateur females with a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4.

The first to file an entry was 14-year-old Sierra Brooks, an amateur from Orlando, Fla., who was one of 100 people to enter on March 4, the first day applications were available. The last to file was 18-year-old amateur Maria Fernanda Villegas, of Chula Vista, Calif., who submitted her entry six minutes before the deadline of 5 p.m. on May 1.

Entries were received from 46 states (all except Alaska, Delaware, Maine and West Virginia) and 44 foreign countries. Players from Canada filed the most foreign entries with 51, followed by Korea (38), Japan (18), Mexico (17) and the People’s Republic of China (16).

“The diverse group of Women’s Open entrants is a testament to the growing international footprint of the game of golf,” said Dot Paluck, chairman of the USGA Women’s Committee. “These women should serve as examples to the next generation of golfers across the world of what can be achieved with hard work and determination.”

Additionally, World Golf Hall of Fame member Juli Inkster has been granted a special exemption into the 2013 championship by virtue of her distinguished career as a USGA champion. Inkster won the 1999 and 2002 U.S. Women’s Opens, and is one of only five women to win three consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur titles (1980-82).

Players can still earn full exemptions by winning an official LPGA Tour event through the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship (which ends June 23). The winner of the 2013 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship will earn a full exemption (provided she remains an amateur), as will those who enter the top 25 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as of June 24.

The remainder of the field will be filled via 36-hole sectional qualifying, which will be conducted at 20 sites. Qualifying begins May 7 and runs through May 30.

A list of the 84 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the Women’s Open follows:

The USGA and Chevron have committed to using the game of golf to encourage students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.
This commitment has led to the creation of extensive golf-focused STEM teaching tools, and has resulted in charitable contributions to support golf-related
programs through Eagles for Education

At U.S. Open Championships the Chevron STEM ZONE™ is an interactive experience highlighting the science and math behind the game of golf through a variety of hands-on exhibits and experiments.

The partnership has also produced educational materials such as the Science of Golf video series and a nationally-distributed newspaper insert which are provided to teachers as tools to enhance existing curriculum in schools. These lessons teach the science behind the USGA’s equipment testing, handicapping, and agronomy efforts.

Rolex has been a longtime supporter of the USGA and salutes the sportsmanship and great traditions unique to the game. This support includes the Rules of Golf where Rolex has partnered with the USGA to ensure golfers understand and appreciate the game.

As the official timekeeper of the USGA and its championships, they also provide clocks throughout host sites for spectator convenience.

IBM provides the information technology to develop and host the U.S. Open’s official website, www.usopen.com, as well as the mobile apps and scoring systems for the three U.S. Open championships. These real-time technology solutions provide an enhanced experience for fans following the championship onsite and online.

For more information on IBM and the technology that powers the U.S. Open and businesses worldwide, visit http://www.usopen.com/IBM

Lexus

Lexus is committed to partnering with the USGA to deliver a best-in-class experience for the world’s best golfers by providing a fleet of courtesy luxury vehicles for all USGA Championships.

At each U.S. Open, Women’s Open and Senior Open, Lexus provides spectators with access to unique experiences ranging from the opportunity to have a picture taken with both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open trophies to autograph signings with legendary Lexus Golf Ambassadors in the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion.

Together, American Express and the USGA have been providing world-class service to golf fans since 2006. By creating interactive U.S. Open experiences both onsite and online, American Express enhances the USGA’s effort to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for fans.